Dealing with numerous issues...insane?

Okay, I am not sure where to post this one…I have been thinking about how many “issues” I have in my life. I am a survivor of abuse (including sexual). I struggle with depression, anxiety, addiction, eating disorder, PTSD, ADD, self harm…I have strong tendencies to isolate myself and I am on a ton of meds. Part of me wonders if there is anything else that could go wrong with me. I think most of my issues are probably rooted in childhood abuse.

Does anybody else ever feel like…I don’t know, like there are too many issues to deal with or maybe a little crazy because they struggle with numerous issues?

Overall, I know I am not broken…but, why me? Why so many struggles? I could see dealing with an eating disorder or depression or ADD or one or two of the many things, but all of them? Am I crazy? Am I making this all up? Am I delusional and really insane?

Hi there DePressMe -- I don't know whether this response will be helpful or not.

For quite a few years, my body seemed to be breaking down -- severe neck and shoulder pain, then a knee that started hurting even when swimming, a shoulder that became injured from innocent swimming, depression, headaches, hip problems, low white blood cell count . . . the list seemed to go on.

Then, I got a diagnosis that seemed to account for all of these.

It was a relief when I could put all the symptoms in the same basket so that I was only dealing with one thing, not a zillion.

Do you think it would help if you could figure out one thing that subsumes all the others. For example, it would appear to me that being a survivor of abuse could account for the multiple other symptoms. Chronologically, it came first; and our chldhood psychological wounds have great bearing on our adult selves.

What do you think?

Yes, WantstoFly, narrowing it down a little would help and your right, it probably does stem from the childhood abuse. I’d like to think that because of all my therapy I am over the abuse. So, if I am more or less over the abuse, why is the depression, anxiety and everything still here? Has my brain been damaged somehow? Thanks for posting—you have helped.

Hi DePressMe,
I try not to label myself because labels get outgrown, outdated, misused and assumptions can run a little rampid.
What's your worst symptom? What gets to you or holds you back the most? Can you concentrate on that one thing instead of trying to attend all of them at once?
You're not crazy-they're probably all connected and if you get to the root of it-you'll have a firm grasp on all of them. So try not to become overwhelmed by all of your different symptoms. (I know, easier said then done.)
You say you think it all stems from your childhood abuse, so I guess that's what you can stockpile everything in-one neat little locker labeled "Child Abuse". That makes me angry just thinking about it. It's all sooo neat and tidy, isn't it? One coward of an adult decides to mess with a child and she get to have a "child abuse" locker full of all kinds of neat little symptoms and pain. (((((((((DePressMe)))))))))))) Do you have anger issues? I do and a bad attitude.
My point about the locker is-yes, there are a lot of different symptoms you have but they're all basically growing from the same tree (the locker). Can you think of it like that?
I'm sorry you're going through so much. It's not fair and I hate that it's hurting you.
I hope this helps a little.

Thanks Pickle. I think I really am not doing too bad with all the issues…I think what gets to me is the idea of having all the issues. The one locker concept sounds good. I guess I start feeling this way when I start comparing myself to “normal” people.

Hi Again --

I've been doing a lot of reading in Jungian analysis right now (since I can't possibly afford it), and right now I'm very influenced by a book of case studies about healing wounds that originate in childhood. According to the analyst -- who was writing this later in her own life -- even the analyst has to be careful not to get her/his own wounds involved in the various therapeutic transferences. From that, I infer that all of us learn to cope through awareness. So maybe there is still some "old business" that needs healing.

I also believe what others wrote -- the labels are not so important.

Well DePressMe... I do not think you are broken and I do not think that you are a normal person. Well I am not sure about that as you did not come from normal circumstances but you have normalized alot ... yes? And how normal do we want to be? Sometimes I would like to blend in better and not be so depressed but I do not know what normal really is except for an external perception.

I think that you are a success story but you know that I have said that before. I wish I could speak to the struggles and the unfair things that have happened to you in your lifetime. What I think makes you beyond normal is that you have done so well with the situation you were dealt. I know that I seem like a cheering squad.. but I want to be more.

I wiish I understood our journey on this earth. For the most part when all the planets are alligned (for lack of a better comparison) then things are alright but when one gets out of allignment that is when one problem or another seems to take things off kilter...at least for me.

Wishing you kilter...

Steve Fromholz wrote a song and it was recorded by he and Willie........It's called "I'd Have to be Crazy" (to fall out of love with you)......human behavior is explored and i especially like this line........."I sure would be dingy, to live in an envelope
Waiting alone for a stamp
You'd swear I was loco to rub for a genie while burning my hand on the lamp
And I may not be normal, but nobody is"

I do not know one normal person and i'm older than dirt....so, I've met alot of people.......the infamous, the famous, the "ordinary", etc.......not one normal one in the bunch........xoxox pat

Love that song, Pat...and Depressme...None of us are normal...
I have another tune, most of the words escaping me:
Diamond Rio "It's All in Your Head:"
"It's all interpretation...
To find the truth ya gotta read between the lines.
Work out your own salvation...
That narrow path is hard to find...
It's more than a place; it's a state of mind..."

I think the suggestions here are better than I could give. Finding the root sounds like tough work, but maybe will help!
Patty